"It's your eye P.B., it's green." Sunset answers before grabbing a mirror on the night stand by the bed.
Peanut Butter quickly reaches for the mirror and takes it before he puts it in front of him and looks at the emerald green color iris of his right eye. He drops the mirror onto the bed as he starts to breathe fast and heavy as his movements become frantic while trying to push himself up the bed and away from the mirror.
"My eye!, what the fuck happened to my eye?!" He asks in a loud panicked tone.
"Calm down P.B., we'll figure this out."
Suddenly his eye glows slightly, Peanut Butter tries to get out of his bed screaming.
"Sunset, you're on fire!" Peanut Butter shouts.
Sunset looks at him with a raised eyebrow and her lips slightly slanted to one side.
"What are you talking about P.B.?, I'm fine." She explains.
The doctor gets up quickly and goes to the doorway.
"Nurse, I need sedatives, now!" The doctor shouts.
Suddenly outside in the hall noises of running feet can be heard. Luna takes a hold of Peanut Butter's hand and looks at him in the eyes.
"You're safe P.B., I'm here for you, we are here for you." Luna assures him.
His screams slowly turns to sobbing as he leans towards Luna and cries on her shoulder. The doctor kneels down and injects him with a syringe and presses down on the plunger as the sedative enters Peanut Butter. Luna runs her hands through his hair as she holds him.
"You'll be going back to sleep P.B., but I'll be here when you wake up okay?" She asks.
He nods slightly before he goes limp in her arms as nurses flood the room and help Luna get him back on the bed.
After ten minutes, Peanut Butter is back on the bed with a blanket that Luna brought over from his room back home over him.
Celestia comes in the room with two cups of coffee and sits next to Luna, offering her a cup.
"Just the way you like it." She assures Luna before Luna takes the cup.
"Thank you."
"I wonder what caused him to act like that?"
"The shock from either waking up or from his eye changing is my guess."
"Possibly, but who knows."
"We do know that he's going to need all of us now."
"Yes he will, rehabilitation is going to be hard, especially mentally."
"Clear Mind will help with that, I’ll schedule an appointment when P.B. is released."
"Good, he needs that, it’ll take time, but he’ll make it through with us around him."
"Like all things do."
"Exactly."
"Just be glad that he is awake and alive."
"I am, more than you can imagine."
Just then the doctor comes in the room before he looks at his clipboard.
"Hello miss Solstice."
"Yes?" Both Luna and Celestia say together.
The doctor smirks and raises an eyebrow at them while they giggle a bit.
"Miss Luna Solstice."
"Yes?"
"Your son is very lucky, and judging from his tests, he'll be ready to go home in a week."
"That's good to hear, what happens after that?"
"He'll have to regain his strength so he'll need help walking around, so you'll need to assist him until he can use a walker and then a cane, after that he'll be good."
"That's good to hear."
"It's common for this to be the case, do you have any stairs?"
"Yes, to get to my apartment."
"I suggest he avoid them for the time being."
Luna looks at Celestia before Celestia nods.
"Anything else?"
"Other than pain medicine, just make sure he doesn't push himself too far."
"We'll have someone keeping an eye on him at all times."
"Good, visitor hours are about to end so I suggest that you two go home."
"Okay, thank you for the update," Luna thanks before turning towards Celestia.
"Where is Sunset?"
"She is with her friends, we'll pick her up before we go home."
Luna and Celestia get up from their seats and head to the door. Luna turns to see Peanut Butter asleep in the bed.
"You be good for them and not cause too much trouble."
Just then a small smile shows on his face. Luna giggles at this before Celestia looks at Luna with a smile of her own.
"I take it he said he makes no promises?" She asks.
"Yes, I think he likes being annoying at times."
"I think that too."
The week following is uneventful with Luna visiting Peanut Butter each day with Celestia and Sunset.
On the last day Peanut Butter is wheel-chaired out to Celestia's car. With the help of Luna and a nurse, Peanut Butter is placed onto the backseat of the car. He groans as he moves slightly in the seat. Celestia puts his seat belt on for him as he looks at Celestia with half open eyes.
"Where's Sunset?" He asks with a small crack in his voice.
"She's at home getting everything ready for you at our home."
He sighs a bit before another groan escapes his mouth. Celestia gets into the car followed by Luna before starting the car and driving home.
The ride is quiet as Peanut Butter looks out the window the whole way with the occasional groan at the slightest movement.
Celestia pulls into the driveway of her house and then shuts off the car. Luna is already out to get Peanut Butter out and gets out to help her as they slowly make their way to the front door with Celestia and Luna holding him up on his left and right. Sunset opens the door and moves to the side so they can get in.
When inside, they see the living room and dining room decorated in party decorations, streamers along the windows and ceiling, the dining room table covered in a table cloth with 'Welcome Home' and 'Get Well Soon' all over it. The top of the table has small bundles of balloons with plates of snacks along the middle and sides with sodas and cups to the side of the soda bottles and gifts on a small folding table. Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Twilight turn their heads towards Peanut Butter.
"Surprise!" They all shout with smiles on their faces.
A soft smile appears on Peanut Butter’s face before he leads Luna and Celestia to the recliner.
"Thanks everyone." He says as he sits on the recliner.
Sunset comes up to him and smiles.
"Want me to get you anything?" She asks.
"Some soda and chips would be great right now."
"Got it."
Sunset gets up and leaves as Applejack goes to Peanut Butter's side. She gives him a soft smile and gently places her arm around him.
"How are ya feelin' sugarcube?" She asks.
"Just peachy,"
He places his hand on his shoulder and groans causing Applejack to move her arm off of him.
"Ouch, and I hurt like hell."
"I bet, how long have you been this way?"
"Since I woke up, nonstop, with meds."
"Yikes, that's a shame."
"Yeah."
Just then Sunset comes back and sets the soda and chips on the end table in front of him.
"Here you go P.B.." She says.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Sunset sits to his right and looks at him and smiles softly.
"I heard about what you said when you woke up, I'm glad, and hopefully you'll be part of our little family."
"That's the thing, I want to, but at the same time, I don't want to lose another one."
"You won't lose us, you're okay and you're safe."
"Promise?"
"I Pinkie Promise."
"You what now?"
"Oh yeah, you never heard of it, it means I can't break it or,"
"Or what?"
Suddenly Pinkie Pie appears behind them with her eyes squinted as she points her middle and index fingers towards her eyes and then points at Sunset with her index finger before she slides away. Peanut Butter looks at Pinkie and then at Sunset raising an eyebrow.
"What was that about?" Peanut Butter asks.
"You're guess is as good as mine."
Peanut Butter shrugs before eating some of the chips.
A couple hours pass when Pinkie Pie and Sunset start to bring the gifts on the table and places them on the end table in front of Peanut Butter. Sunset sets a skinny box, about three inches high and about a foot and three inches wide and the same measurement long, it is wrapped in yellow and orange wrapping paper with a bow on top on his lap and smiles wide.
"This is from Celestia and I." Sunset mentions with a smile.
He unwraps the box and lifts the top to reveal a rust colored hoodie, he takes it out to reveal a design of a wolf howling at the moon in the middle. He smiles wide before looking down to see more. He sets the hoodie aside and removes some of the tissue paper to reveal a dark colored, plaid button down shirt and a black t-shirt.
"Oh wow this is awesome, thanks." He says as he gives the presents to Luna to hold.
"Mine next!" Rainbow Dash shouts as she gives him a rainbow colored bag with tissue paper that has a rainbow pattern on it.
"Gezz Rainbow, no need ta be so impatient." Applejack says.
Peanut Butter giggles and coughs as he removes the paper to reveal a deck of trading cards and a few booster packs. He looks at Rainbow with a small smile and a raised eyebrow.
"It's a cool game Twilight showed me, we'll teach you how to play it sometime." She explains.
"It's nice, though I never took you for someone who would play card games."
"You can thank Twilight for that, she got me hooked."
Peanut Butter giggles and gives the gift to Luna.
Pinkie Pie lays a tall box in pink wrapping paper and a bow on top on his lap. Peanut Butter smiles and opens it. Just them a burst of confetti flies into the air causing him to jump and throw the box into the air above his lap. His eye go wide as he breathes loud and heavy, the silence causes Pinkie to frown and her hair to deflate.
A few seconds later, his open mouth slowly turned into a smile and the silence was broken by a small bit of laughter.
"You got one on me Pinkie, thank you, I needed a good laugh." He thanks.
Pinkie smiles wide as he eye go big and jumps in the air.
Applejack comes with a large flat box with just a bow on top and sets it on his lap.
"Ah hope ya like it, took a long time to work on it." She mentions.
He lifts the top to reveal a quilt. Peanut Butter lifts it up and sees the homemade feel, from the mismatched stitches to the obviously hand cut fabric patterns. The quilt is puffed out and thick to the touch from the stuffing in it.
His eyes well up before holding it close to him.
"This is great A.J., thanks." He thanks with a small crack in his voice.
"You're welcome, Applebloom and Big Mac helped too."
"Tell them I said thanks."
"I will."
Twilight comes up next with a purple bag with hot pink paper and a violet bow and sets it on Peanut Butter's lap. He removes the paper from the bag to reveal the top of a book, he lifts it out and sees the cover, it shows a split image with one side showing a rain storm and the other side is a sunny day with the title 'Rising up, Coping With Trauma'.
Peanut Butter stares at the book, silently as he breathes deep.
Twilight looks at him with wide eyes, welling up and short breath.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry." Twilight apologizes in a frantic tone.
Peanut Butter then looks up at her with a small smile.
"It's okay Twilight, I think it was thoughtful of you to get this, I'll need it for when I feel like I'm ready to get to that step, thank you." He thanks.
"Was it too soon?"
"A bit yes, but it's okay."
"Oh, okay, you're welcome."
He gives the book to Luna as Fluttershy comes up with another bag. This one has bright colors and the phrase 'Get Well Soon' all over it in rows along the bag. Peanut Butter opens the bag up to see the head of a teddy bear, he takes it out to see that it has bandages on its head as well as a cast on its arm. Peanut Butter smiles with a slight chuckle, followed by a cough.
"Wow Fluttershy, this is adorable." He exclaims.
"I'm glad you like it."
"I really do, thank you."
"You're welcome."
He places the bear to his left as Rarity brings a box with white wrapping paper with a purple bow and places it on his lap. He unwraps it and opens the box before removing the tissue paper inside and reveling a plush toy, he takes it out to see a peanut butter brown pony with bat wings, bat eyes, and ears. As he looks it over his eyes go wide as he notices it also has a blue hoodie with glasses on it.
Rarity smiles as she watches him.
"I made it myself, there's something in the bottom of the box too." Rarity says.
He pulls away more tissue paper at the bottom of the box and pulls out a hoodie much like the one on the plush. He smiles wide, eyeing it over before turning to Rarity.
"Oh wow, R-Rarity, Th-this is amazing!" He stutters.
"You're very welcome, I'm glad you're safe and okay."
"Me too."
He looks around the room as tears start to well up at the bottom of his eyes.
"Thank you everyone, you all mean so much to me." He admits before crying.
They all go to him for a group hug, they step back after a few seconds as Sunset looks at him with a confident smirk.
"You're family P.B., we'll always look out for you." She says.
Rainbow Dash steps forward as well.
"We're you're friends, you won't lose us anytime soon." She mentions as the others nod.
Luna places her hand on his shoulder causing him to turn his head towards her.
"P.B., when you first came here, you kept to only your room and my office, but now look at you, you came out of your shell and have made some excellent friends in a matter of months," Luna says as she takes out a manila envelope.
"My gift is last because it's something that I want you to decide on,"
She opens it and takes out papers in it and shows them to him.
"These are adoption papers, I want you to be part of our little family, I want the choice to be yours since you're old enough to speak for yourself." Luna explains.
Peanut Butter and the room stay silent for a minute as Peanut Butter looks at the papers.
"I'll need time to think about it." He says.
"Take all the time you need."
Luna puts away the papers and places the envelope with the other gifts. She turns towards Peanut Butter to see his eyes closed and lightly breathing. She gets up and leans towards Celestia.
"The meds must have kicked in." She whispers.
"Yeah, I think it's time to end the party early."
Sunset and Luna clean up from the party while Celestia sets up for the family movie night and the others say their goodbyes and head home.
A couple hours later Peanut Butter stirs and wakes up as Celestia, Luna, and Sunset are watching a movie. He coughs causing Sunset to turn her head. She smiles and waves her hand slightly.
"Hey there sleepyhead." Sunset greets.
"Hey." He says weakly.
Luna and Celestia turn around and smile.
"How did you sleep?" Luna asks.
"Like a rock."
"I bet." Celestia comments.
"What are you watching?"
"A Stroll to Recall." Sunset answers.
"Ah."
Peanut Butter watches for a few minutes before falling back to sleep.
As the weeks go by Peanut Butter is able to walk with a cane as his therapy progresses. His stitches have been removed, however his vision has been weakening. After seeing an optometrist, he got glasses for the first time.
One day Peanut Butter is laying on the couch reading a book as Sunset comes up behind him and taps his shoulder.
"How are you feeling?" She asks.
"Feeling pretty good minus the aching."
"Glad to hear, so, ready to go back to school tomorrow?"
"Physically yes, emotionally, I don't know."
"You'll be okay, we're here for you, I see you're reading the book Twilight gave you."
"Yeah, its been helpful."
"Good."
"It says I should find a hobby to help me move on, not distract me, from what happened."
"Have you found any?"
"So far, cooking and that card game that Rainbow and Twilight got me into."
"What about writing?"
"I've been slowly losing interest lately, I'm probably going to leave the club."
"Ah, Any plans to join another club or anything?"
"Don't know yet."
"Understandable."
Sunset sits next to him, her face shows concern and looks towards him.
"Do you, do you think he'll come back?"
"Doubtful, the heat is still high and will be for a while."
"True, but I'm not sure."
"If he does come back though, no mercy."
Later in Luna's apartment in his room, Peanut Butter lays on his bed as the room is illuminated by a dim green glow. He sighs as he closes his right eye the room goes dark and he opens his right eye as the room glows again. He sits up and looks at his hand.
"Why me?"
He looks towards the window in his room and then back to his hand.
"I was given this thing, yet, I don't know what to do with it."
He sighs and looks around his room before getting up off his bed.
"Damnit, now I can't sleep."
He goes to the kitchen and opens the fridge before taking out leftovers from earlier and warms them in the microwave.
A couple hours later Luna comes out of her room and into the kitchen and sees Peanut Butter at the island, pushing his food around on the dimly lit plate.
"P.B., it's three in the morning, why are you up so early?" Luna asks.
"Couldn't sleep."
"Hungry too."
"Yeah, I was hoping food in my stomach would help me sleep, guess it didn't."
"Is something bothering you?"
"I think, maybe, I don't know."
Luna sits on a stool next to him and looks at him.
"P.B., just let the words come out as they come."
"Why am I still here?, I feel as if I was supposed to die on that floor then, even the doctors said that I should have died, so why am I back here?, I should have died like a street rat, like he said."
"Don't say stuff like that, some things in life you can't explain, no matter how hard you try,"
Luna hugs him close to her.
"What matters now is that you're safe."
"I feel so different though."
"Why is that?"
"Like part of me is at peace, but I also feel lost, ya know?"
"I do, went through the same feeling at your age."
"You did?"
"Yep, though I was a bit more, extreme as a teen."
"What did you do?"
"I did drugs, drank underage, steal, just to name a few, though it didn't last long, I stole a car and took it for a joyride before crashing it into a pole on the other side of town, I was arrested for grand theft auto, among other charges, I was given a choice by the judge, three years in juvie or four years in rehab and no jail time."
"What did you choose?"
"Rehab, at least then my life wouldn't be completely over with after I got out, while I was in there, I asked myself the same questions you did, I learned to put my energy towards other things that were more productive and to talk to people more."
Peanut Butter stays silent for a minute.
"Thanks, I needed to hear that." He says.
"You're welcome, now I think you can get a couple hours of sleep in before we have to get up."
"Okay."
Peanut Butter finishes his food and puts away his dishes and goes to bed.
A couple hours later he wakes up to the radio playing out in the living room and gets up to investigate.
He walks out to the hallway and sees Luna dressed and making breakfast. He walks to the island and pulls out a stool. This causes Luna to turn around and see him.
"Hey there sleepy head." Luna greets him before turning back to the food.
"Blah."
"Still waking up?"
"Yeah, how long was I asleep?"
"My guess, about seven hours."
"Shit, I guess we're late then?"
"No, luckily for us there is a delay due to a power outage at the school."
"Oh thank God."
"But I would suggest you getting ready so we can go once Celestia calls."
"Alright."
Peanut Butter gets up and make his way to his room and then the bathroom to get ready while Luna finishes cooking.
A half hour later he comes out to the kitchen with his book bag and sets it on the floor next to the stool he sits on as Luna passes him his plate and blood sugar meter. He sighs before picking the meter up and presses it against his finger and pricks his finger before taking out his notebook and writing down his results. Just then Luna sits down and they both start to eat.
After eating they leave the apartment and go to the car to head to the school.
As Luna pulls in the school parking lot she parks in her spot and looks over at Peanut Butter as he grabs his bag.
"Nervous?" Luna asks.
"A bit."
"It'll be okay."
"Will it really?"
"I'm certain."
"If you say so."
They both get out and head into the school.
Once inside they part ways as Luna goes to her office and Peanut Butter goes in a near by hallway. As he walks towards the back of the school he runs into sunset in Twilight talking. Sunset looks over Twilight shoulder and notices Peanut Butter. She waves causing Twilight to turn her head and smile.
“Hey P.B..” Twilight greets.
“Hey guys.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Better, small bit of aching but getting better.”
“Good, I want to introduce you to a couple of friends.”
Twilight guides Peanut Butter to a nearby classroom and walks inside are three other students sitting around a table. A kid wearing in grey hoodie and sweatpants, another wearing a black leather, jacket blue jeans, and tan work boots, and a kid with round glasses, a red t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers.
Twilight and Peanut Butter go to the table where the other students are and sees them play the same card game they play. She turns towards him the same smile on her face.
“These are my friends Winning Streak, Two Steps, and Night Mist.” She says as she points to each one of them saying their name.
“Who's the new guy Twilight?” Winning Streak asks.
“This is peanut butter or known as P.B..”
“Does he play?”
“He does but he's still new to the game.”
Winning Streak smiles and points to a chair.
“Well sit down and let's see what you can do P.B..”
“Uh, sure.” Peanut Butter says as he sits down in front of Winning Streak.
He reaches into his bag and takes out his deck of cards and sets them on the table.
“Alright let's do this.” Winning Streak says as he draws his hand from his deck.
A few minutes later Winning Streak looks at the table with his eyes wide and jaw dropped.
“H-How?” He asks as he moves his eyes on the game board.
Everyone else in the room has the same expression eyes wide and Jaws drops except for peanut butter who has raised eyebrows sly smirk on his face.
“No one has been able to beat him.” Twilight mentions.
“Until now apparently.” Peanut Butter says still with a smirk on his face.
“No kidding.”
Peanut butter gets up and is cards and places them in a blue deck box before placing them in his book bag.
“Hey P.B..” Two Steps says.
Peanut Butter looks up towards Two Steps as he is zipping his bag.
“Yeah?”
“Want to meet up after class?”
“Sure.”
Peanut Butter picks up his backpack and leave the room with Twilight following behind him. He goes down the same hallway towards the front of the school. As he does he suddenly feels someone hugging him from behind. He quickly turns around and see Applejack smiling at him still hugging him.
“Good mornin’ P.B..” She says in a cheerful tone.
“Hey A.J., good morning to you too.”
“You doin’ okay?”
“Still a bit sore, but doing better.”
“First day back is probably rough on you .”
“So far it hasn't and I hope it stays that way.”
“It will, I'm here for ya.”
“Glad to hear.”
“Of course.”
They continue to walk in the hallway together. Peanut butter holds his hand out to Applejack’s side causing her to smile and take his hand before she moves closer to him as they walk just as the bell rings.
As they reach the English classroom they part ways with Sunset and Peanut Butter staying behind and entering the classroom.
At lunch Peanut Butter sits at a small table by himself as Winning Streak and Two Steps stand by the table a few minutes later.
“Mind if we join?” Winning Streak asks.
“Sure.”
“Thanks.”
They sit down and start to eat. Two Steps looks at Peanut Butter and then to Winning Streak. He nods towards Two Steps then he looks over at Peanut Butter.
“We want you to join our team.” Two Steps says.
“Your what?”
“Our team.”
“Team for what? “
“Our team for Sorcery The Bonding.”
Winning Streak looks at Peanut Butter with a raised eyebrow and a smirk on his face like Peanut Butter had from that morning.
“You're good P.B., we want you to join our team, with you we are sure to make nationals, hell maybe even worlds.” Winning Streak mentions.
“Thanks, but what does that mean though?”
“You join us for local tournaments at card shops around town and official qualifiers, we train every other day after school at the library down the street then we usually hang out afterwards.”
“What do I have to do to join?”
“Win against each member.”
“ I'll think about it.”
“Awesome forget about meeting up after school, plans came up and those are priority.”
“That's a pretty mean deck you have there a mid-range like yours is hard to make it's pretty balanced for a mid-range deck especially.” Two Step says.
“Thanks.”
“You're welcome.”
Just then the bell rings as Peanut Butter gets up with his tray and looks at Winning Streak and Two Steps with a smile on his face.
“I'll see you guys later.” Peanut Butter says as he grabs his book bag and hikes a strap over his shoulder.
“Okay.” Winning Streak says.
“See ya later.” Two Steps says.
Peanut butter then leaves the table and drops off his tray before heading to class.
After class Peanut Butter meets up with Luna at her office they both leave and go to the car and head home.
As they are heading home Luna turns towards the highway and gets on. Peanut Butter looks at her with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.
“Random adventure?” He asks.
“You could say that, just enjoy the ride.”
“Will do.”
An hour passes as they go to a lakeside restaurant and get a table on the dock. Peanut Butter looks out at the lake and smirks.
“Man I love this view.” Peanut Butter says.
“It is nice.”
A few minutes later after their drink order Peanut Butter turns his head towards Luna, though looks away from her, with him fidgeting with his fingers.
“I, I gave your offer some thought.”
Luna’s eyes go wide as her hand goes over her mouth.
“And?”
“I want to be a part of your family.”
Luna’s eye’s well up at the bottom and gets up and goes to him and hugs him as her tears are absorbed by his jacket. He hugs back and smiles.